Publications by authors named "P N Graves"
The elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) as a public health problem remains an ongoing challenge in the Pacific region. This study reports on antigen (Ag) and microfilaria (Mf) prevalence in Samoa in 2019, 7-9 months after the completion of the first round of triple-drug mass drug administration (MDA). It evaluates the effectiveness of the intervention for reducing Ag prevalence to below a 2% threshold, and how this differs between 5-9-year-olds and ≥10-year-olds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUtilizing a randomized control design, 42 healthy adults (22.5 ± 2.8 years) participated in alternate-day modified fasting over a 12-day treatment period.
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- Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a serious neglected tropical disease that requires improved surveillance methods, and molecular xenomonitoring (MX) could help track the disease by detecting its DNA in mosquitoes.
- A study in Samoa compared the prevalence of microfilaraemia (Mf) in humans with the presence of PCR-positive mosquitoes in different communities.
- The results showed a correlation between the number of positive mosquitoes and human Mf prevalence, particularly with the mosquito species Aedes polynesiensis, indicating that MX could be a valuable tool in monitoring LF.
Field laboratory comparison of STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) with Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for the detection of Lymphatic Filariasis in Samoa, 2023.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
August 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) against the current Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti, the parasite causing lymphatic filariasis, in field surveys conducted in Samoa.
- Results showed that both tests had similar Ag-positivity rates (29.0% for FTS and 30.2% for QFAT) with a high concordance of 93.6%.
- The QFAT was preferred by the field team for its ease of use, smaller blood volume requirement, and better readability, indicating it could be an effective alternative for LF monitoring.
Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) remains a significant global issue. To eliminate LF as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends multiple rounds of mass drug administration (MDA). In certain scenarios, including when elimination targets have not been met with two-drug MDA, triple-drug MDA (using ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) is recommended.
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